Preparation and characterization of [[M(dmb)2]TCNQ.xTCNQo]n polymers (M=Cu,Ag; dmb = 1,8-diisocyano-p-menthane; x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5; TCNQ = 7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p-quinodimethane) and design of new semi- and photoconducting organometallic materials

New thermoplastic organometallic materials of the type [[M(dmb)2]TCNQ.xTCNQo.y solvent], (M = Cu(I), Ag(I); dmb = 1,8-diisocyano-p-menthane; TCNQ = 7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p-quinodimethane, x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5; solvent = none, THF or toluene) have been prepared and characterized from X-ray powder diffraction patterns, X-ray crystallography (for some Ag polymers), DSC, and conductivity measurements. While the [[M(dmb)2]TCNQ.xTCNQo]n polymers (M = Cu,Ag; x = 0, 0.5) are insulating, the others (x = 1.0 and 1.5) are semiconducting, and the relative conductivity is found to be a function of the molecular weight and crystallinity. The [[Cu(dmb)2]TCNQ.1.5TCNQ]n material is also photoconducting, while the Ag analogue is not. Photochemical and luminescence quenching experiments in the solid-state established that the Cu+ center and TCNQo act as electron donor and acceptor, respectively, in this photoprocess. Finally photocells of the type glass/SnO2/[Cu(dmb)2]TCNQ.TCNQo]n + 0.5 acceptor/Al (acceptor = TCNQo, C60 and TCNN (13,13,14,14-tetracyano-5,12-naphthacenequinodimethane)) have been designed and characterized. The quantum yields (number of photoproduced electrons/number of photons) are as follows: TCNQ, 1.6 x 10(-4), C60, 5 x 10(-5), TCNN, 3.0 x 10(-4) at lambdaexc = 330 nm. X-ray data for [[Ag(dmb)2]TCNQ.2THF]n: space group P2(1/c), monoclinic, a = 13.5501(10), b = 9.9045(10), c = 32.564(2) A, beta = 91.130(10) degrees, Z = 4. X-ray data for [[Ag(dmb)2]TCNQ.0.5TCNQo.0.5 toluene]n: space group P2(1/c), monoclinic, a = 14.3669(19), b = 9.1659(3), c = 34.012(3) A, beta = 92.140(8) degrees, Z = 4. X-ray data for [[Ag(dmb)2]TCNQ.1.5TCNQo]n: space group C2/c, monoclinic, a = 25.830(11), b = 9.680(2), c = 42.183(19) A, beta = 104.87(4) degrees, Z = 8. X-ray data for [[Ag(dmb)2]DCTC]n: space group P2(1/a), monoclinic, a = 26.273(3), b = 9.730(3), c = 31.526(3) A, beta = 112.12(2)degrees, Z = 4.     

Probing the electronic communication of the isocyanide bridge through the luminescence properties of the d9-d9 [ClPt(mu-dppm)2Pt(C triple bond N-PCP)]+ and A-Frame [ClPd(mu-dppm)2(mu-C=N-PCP)PdCl] complexes

The homodinuclear d9-d9 ClM(mu-dppm)2MCl2 complexes, 1 (M ) Pt) and 2 (M ) Pd) react with the conjugated and luminescent PCP-NC ligand (3, PCP ) [2.2]paracyclophane) to provide the corresponding d9-d9 terminal[ClPt(mu-dppm)2Pt(CNsPCP)]Cl (4) and d8-d8 A-frame [ClPd(mu-dppm)2(mu-CdNsPCP)PdCl] (5) isocyanide complexes, respectively. These two bimetallic complexes were characterized by IR, 1H, and 31P{1H} NMR and bychemical analysis. IR data (nu(CN) bridging vs terminal) reveal a terminal isocyanide bonding mode for 4 (2147cm(-1)) and an A-frame structure for 5 (1616 cm(-1)). The optical and emission properties of the free isocyanide 3as well as those of the homodinuclear complexes 4 and 5 were studied by UV-visible and luminescence spectroscopy and by photophysical measurements. The unexpected presence of simultaneous intraligand pipi* fluorescence and phosphorescence attributable to the organic PCP-NC ligand, as well as luminescence from the inorganic M2-bonded Pt2(mu-dppm)2 center arising from a lower energy excited LMCT state (ligand-to-metal-charge-transfer) for4 at 77 K, indicates a weak conjugation between the two chromophores and an absence of efficient singlet andtriplet energy transfers. For 5, only the fluorescence and phosphorescence bands of the PCP-NC ligand are observed [since the A-frame XPd(mu-dppm)2(mu-L)PdX (L ) isocyanide, X ) halide) is not luminescent], stressing that the NtC bridge exhibits modest electronic communication properties.     

Efficient and Rapid Synthesis of Radioactive Gold Nanoparticles by Dielectric Barrier Discharge

A compact bench‐top system based on a dielectric barrier plasma discharge (DBD), enables the rapid, automatable, and continuous‐flow synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and radioactive gold nanoparticles (¹⁹⁸AuNPs). AuNPs are used as radiosensitizers in oncology, and ¹⁹⁸AuNPs (half‐life: 2.7 d) have been suggested as potential cancer brachytherapy sources. Plasma applied at the surface of a liquid containing gold ions (AuCl₄^?) and dextran induces the production of AuNPs directly in water. This synthesis is monitored in real time by UV–visible spectrometry: the change of absorbance of the solution provides new insights on the growth dynamics of AuNPs by plasma synthesis. By balancing gold ions and surfactant molecules, particles with a diameter lying in the optimal range for radiosensitizing applications (28 ± 9 nm) are produced. The method yields a reduction of more than 99% of the gold ions within only 30 min of plasma treatment. A postsynthesis ripening of the AuNPs is revealed, monitored by UV–visible spectrometry, and quantified within the first few hours following plasma treatment. Radioactive ¹⁹⁸AuNPs are also produced by DBD synthesis and characterized by electron microscopy and single‐photon emission computed tomography imaging. The results confirm the efficiency of DBD reactors for AuNPs synthesis in oncology applications.     

Development of new triangular elements for free surface flows

New finite elements have been developed to simulate steady and unsteady two-dimensional free surface flows. The depth-averaged velocity components with the free surface elevation have been used as independent variables in the model. The differences between the various elements presented lie in the choice of velocity approximation. The Newton–Raphson method has been used to solve the non-linear system of equations. Emphasis is put on bench-mark examples to assess the accuracy and efficiency of the elements. A simple stable new element tested herein shows promising advantages for industrial finite element codes.     

A method for finite element parallel viscous compressible flow calculations

This paper presents the parallelization aspects of a solution method for the fully coupled 3D compressible Navier-Stokes equations. The algorithmic thrust of the approach, embedded in a finite element code NS3D, is the linearization of the governing equations through Newton methods, followed by a fully coupled solution of velocities and pressure at each non-linear iteration by preconditioned conjugate gradient-like iterative algorithms. For the matrix assembly, as well as for the linear equation solver, efficient coarse-grain parallel schemes have been developed for shared memory machines, as well as for networks of workstations, with a moderate number of processors. The parallel iterative schemes, in particular, circumvent some of the difficulties associated with domain decomposition methods, such as geometry bookkeeping and the sometimes drastic convergence slow-down of partitioned non-linear problems.     

An iterative implementation of the Uzawa algorithm for 3-D fluid flow problems

A new iterative algorithm for the solution of the three-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations by the finite element method is presented. This algorithm is based on a combination of the Uzawa and the Arrow–Hurwicz algorithms and uses a preconditioning technique to enhance convergence. Numerical tests are presented for the cubic cavity problem with two elements, namely the linear brick Q₁?P₀ and the enriched linear brick Q₁⁺ ? P₁. It is shown that the proposed methodology is optimal with the enriched element and that the CPU time varies as NEQ^1·44, where NEQ is the number of equations.     

Kinetic roughening in polymer film growth by vapor deposition

The growth front roughness of linear poly( p-xylylene) films grown by vapor deposition polymerization has been investigated using atomic force microscopy. The interface width w increases as a power law of film thickness d, w approximately d(beta), with beta = 0. 25+/-0.03, and the lateral correlation length xi grows as xi approximately d(1/z), with 1/z = 0.31+/-0.02. This novel scaling behavior is interpreted as the result of monomer bulk diffusion, and belongs to a new universality class that has not been discussed previously.     

First halogen anion-bridged (MMX)(n)-type one-dimensional coordination polymer built upon d(10)-d(10) dimers

The complex [Ag(2)(PhPPy(2))(2)(NCCH(3))(2)](ClO(4))(2) [PhPPy(2) = bis(2-pyridyl)phenylphosphine] reacts with NH(4)Cl to form an insoluble one-dimensional polymer of the type (MMX)(n), {[Ag(2)(PhPPy(2))(2)Cl](ClO(4))}(n). The binuclear unit, Ag(2)(PhPPy(2))(2)(2+), exhibits two PhPPy(2) tridentate ligands bridging the two Ag atoms in a head-to-tail fashion with C(2h) symmetry, and the Ag···Ag distance [3.0942(11) ?, X-ray] suggests argentophilic interactions. Each Ag center adopts a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry, coordinated by one P atom and two pyridyl arms at the equatorial positions and interacting with one Cl ion and one Ag ion at the axial positions. The short Ag-Cl bond length [2.5791(7) ?] indicates the presence of some covalent character. The solid-state absorption bands spread all the way to 600 nm have been interpreted by means of density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (B3LYP), and the lowest-energy excited states are assigned to metal/halide-to-pyridyl charge transfer, consistent with the d(10) electronic configuration of Ag. The calculated oscillator strengths are low because of the poor molecular orbital overlaps in the charge-transfer components. The novel material exhibits a luminescence band centered at about ～520 nm.